REPORT: Bad Day at Kings Island (6/9/1991)
Dave Althoff
Since we've been discussing this again, I thought I'd do some library
research and see what I could find. Here is how the accidents played out
in the Cincinnati newspapers. --DCAjr.
The Bad Day at Kings Island - June 9, 1991 - According to newspaper
reports.
compiled from reports published in the Cincinnati Enquirer.
====================Reported June 10, 1991:
At about 8:30pm, three men apparently suffered electrical shock, two
fatally, in the pond near the German Bier Garten. Victims William
Haithcoat (20) and Darrel Robertson, a park employee (20) were both
pronounced dead at about 10:00pm. Timothy Benning (22) was hospitalized
in fair condition.
At about 9:45pm, a woman was killed when she fell from a tub on the Flight
Commander ride. The story then included a not-terribly-accurate
description of the ride action.
====================Reported June 11, 1991:
June 9, 1991 was the deadliest day in the history of Kings Island; the
second accident was the first ride-related fatality in the history of the
park (DCA: note that this was AFTER the removal of the Bat, which NEVER
KILLED ANYBODY!!!).
In a recounting of the Bier Garten incident, witnesses claimed that
Timothy Binning was splashing in the fenced-in pond. Apparently jolted by
an electrical current, he fell into the shallow water. His friend William
Haithcoat (identified here as Age 21) tried to help him and was fatally
shocked. They were followed by a park security guard, Darrell Robertson
(20) who was also fatally shocked. Haithcoat and Robertson both died at
University Hospital; by the night of 6/10, Binning was in good condition
at Bethesda North Hospital.
In the other incident, the victim was identified as Candy Taylor, a
32-year-old mother of two. The time of the incident was listed as 9:25.
Taylor was riding alone in the ride car, and died of multiple body trauma
caused by the fall. Riders on Flight Commander are secured by an over-the
shoulder bar and by a lap bar, both were intact when the ride stopped.
Witnesses reported that the woman may have been straining and twisting to
watch the emergency helicopters brought to the scene of the other
accident, but those reports were unconfirmed. A representative of
International Theme Park Services, a Cincinnati-based consulting firm,
indicated that it would be difficult for 5'5" Taylor to free herself from
the ride restraints.
Another story described the victims; another story noted that the
accidents had little or no affect on next-day attendance; another story
noted that ride incidents are rare (it was Ohio's first ride fatality in
ten years).
A sidebar listed two earlier incidents where mechanical problems resulted
in injuries...on August 8, 1984, eight people were hospitalized with minor
injuries when a car on King Cobra derailed; and on August 5, 1990, 19
people were hurt slightly when the rotating Sky Lab abruptly stopped.
====================Reported June 12, 1991:
Investigators removed a suspect 1/2 hp. 110v aerator pump from the Bier
Garten pond. Outside investigators powered up the pump and detected a
current in the pond; shut it down and detected no current. Park spokesmen
avoided positively identifying the pump as playing a role in the incident,
pending completion of the investigation.
Howard Heath (31), a park visitor on the day of the accident, said he ran
to the pond after hearing screams. He and another man entered the pond,
felt no electrical current, and pulled out Robunson and Haithcoat.
Binning was submerged, so Heath and the other man held a third bystander
by the ankles and lowered him to the water to retrieve Binning.
Meanwhile, Heath's girlfriend Paula Earls (27) began CPR on each of the
victims. All three were breathing before they were taken away by
emergency personnel.
Binning was the first into the water, but no one seems to know why he was
there. His lawyer quoted him saying he felt a shock, and the next thing
he knew he was on the bottom, unable to get out.
====================Reported June 13, 1991:
Investigators from the Department of Agriculture, Intamin AG, and OSHA
began examining the Flight Commander ride on 6/12, dismantling part of the
ride and removing a car for analysis. Several riders were quoted talking
about problems with the ride's safety restraints...one man claimed his bar
had opened just before the ride, and three junior high school students
noted that when they rode on Friday, the lap and shoulder restraints
failed to release properly at the end of the ride. (DCAjr: Of course,
these are normal behaviors for any ride with mechanically operated
restraints...)
Also, Mike Graham (13) claimed his lap bar came loose after he did several
rolls on May 31.
The car Taylor was riding in was partly dismantled by investigators so
that parts could be analyzed. Attorneys for the victim's estate had hired
an independent investigator. The remainder of the article described
Intamin, noted that the other Flight Trainers had been shut down, and
included comments from both Stuart Zanville of Knott's Berry Farm and Tim
O'Brien of Amusement Business saying it would be very difficult to wiggle
out of the ride restraints.
In another article, it was noted that OSHA investigators found possible
hazards relating to the pond accident--
1. There was no ground-fault interruptor in the circuit. Required by
current electrical code, but the pump was likely installed before the code
was adopted.
2. There was no adequate ground wire.
3. The ground pin on the pump's plug was broken
4. The circuit breaker on the pump circuit was larger than code
specifies.
It was also noted that pond victim Timothy Binning was released from the
hospital on June 12.
====================Reported June 14, 1991:
The lawyer representing the victim in the Flight Commander incident
wondered if Taylor would have survived if the car had been equipped with
an optional hard-plastic cover. Kings Island officials noted that the
covers were designed to keep objects from falling or being thrown from the
ride, not to restrain riders. Kings Island did not install the covers
because people waiting to ride are in a tunnel below the ride and are thus
protected from falling objects. Knott's Berry Farm also does not use the
covers, for the same reason. The article also described again the action
and restraints on the ride. Leonard Cavelier, chief ride inspector for
the State of Ohio, noted that the ride will not operate unless all of the
restraints are locked, but that it is possible for the restraints to lock
without being closed.
Another article described the restraints on seven other rides.
====================Reported June 15, 1991:
The Department of Agriculture received at least 25 calls about the
accident. The victim's lawyer participated in the investigation of the
ride, and theorized that Taylor slid from her seat to the unoccupied seat,
then fell from the ride. Preliminary inspections did not turn up any
problems with ratchets or pneumatics that locked the restraints.
====================Reported June 16, 1991:
A story eulogizing the Kings Island guard who died in the beer garden
pond.
Another story noted just how safe amusement rides really are, with a
sidebar describing nine ride-related incidents between 1977 and 1991.
====================Reported June 27, 1991:
According to a coroner's report, Flight Commander victim Candy Taylor had
a blood alcohol level of 0.30 at the time of the accident. One of the
family's lawyers discounted the fact, noting that the ride still should
have restrained the victim. Witnesses did not report that the victim
showed signs of drunkenness.
====================Reported July 18, 1991:
OSHA investigators cite Kings Island for 7 safety violations related to
the Bier Garten pond incident. The park was fined $23,500. William
Murphy, OSHA area director, questioned the safety of the ride restraints,
however, none of the OSHA citations were related to the ride incident, as
regulation of the rides does not fall under OSHA's jurisdiction.
The OSHA violations and fines were as follows:
$5,000: A broken ground plug on an aerator pump and inadequate grounds on
other outlets.
$5,000: Improper size circuit breaker protecting outlets near the pond.
$5,000: Lack of a ground-fault circuit interrupter on the pump circuit.
$3,500: Guard railings on bridge and deck around Bier Garten 8" too low.
$2,500: Inadequate inspections of electrical equipment.
$2,500: Damaged weatherproof covers on receptacles.
====================Reported July 26, 1991:
State officials announced their findings from the investigation of the
Flight Commander ride. Fred Daley, director of the Department of
Agriculture, announced that the Flight Commander ride suffered a design
flaw that would allow a properly restrained solo rider to slide into the
unoccupied seat. Before the ride can reopen, improvements must be made;
Daley suggested either a higher seat divider or a seat belt. In four
published photos, inspector John Dodson demonstrates how inspectors
believe the accident happened:
1. Solo rider sits alone, secured in the inside seat; restraints on the
empty seat are left open "as was the case when Taylor was riding."
2. Rider goes limp; his hips slide over the divider into empty seat.
3. Rider slips from under the shoulder bar
4. Rider is completely free of the restraints.
The park was cleared by the Department of Agriculture in the death of
Candy Taylor, because the ride design was defective. Taylor's inebriated
condition may have contributed to the accident, and that she may have lost
consciousness during her ride. Fred Daley said Taylor bore some
responsibility for her condition. But he also noted that the ride should
be able to hold riders in place even if they do lose consciousness.
The article also indicated that there was no evidence to suggest that
Taylor was suicidal or attempting to watch the helicopters taking off from
the parking lot.
Condensed from reports in the Cincinnati Enquirer published on the dates
indicated.
--Dave Althoff, Jr.
--
/-\ _ _ *** New season begins May 9! ***
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Dave Althoff
Bad Day at Kings Island - June 9, 1991
NOTE: Every detail in this message can be found in the Cincinnati
Enquirer articles condensed in my other post. Because the articles in the
other file are condensed, some of the details presented here may have been
omitted from that file.
I. Two killed, one injured in Bier Garten pond.
Timothy Binning, age 22, took his buddy William Haithcoat, age 21, to
Kings Island as his guest at the Ameritrust employee picnic. It is not
completely clear what happened, except that at around 8:30pm, for reasons
which are unknown or unreported, Binning entered the water of the pond
surrounding the Bier Garten. He felt an electrical shock, which
apparently knocked him face-down in the pond and left him unable to get
back up.
Noticing that his friend was in trouble, Haithcoat jumped in to try and
rescue Binning from the shallow water. He too received an electrical
shock.
Meanwhile, 20-year-old Kings Island security guard Darrell Robertson was
walking down the boardwalk and noticed trouble. He jumped into the
shallow pond iin an effort to save both men, but also received an
electrical shock. Apparently, a child was screaming by now about someone
drowning in the pond, which prompted Howard Heath, 31, and two others to
the site of the incident. Heath touched the water, but by now the circuit
breaker had apparently tripped, because he felt no electric current.
Heath and one of the other two men pulled Robertson and Haithcoat from the
water. Heath's girlfriend, Paula Earls, a 27-year-old nurse from
Indianapolis, administered CPR on the victims as they were pulled from the
pond. Binning was face-down and submerged at this point, so Heath and the
other rescuer held the ankles of a third man, who pulled Binning out of
the pond. Each of the victims began to breathe again before being taken
away by emergency personnel. Binning was taken to Bethesda hospital,
where he recovered and was released in a couple of days. Robertson and
Haithcoat were taken to the University of Cincinnati medical center, where
they were both pronounced dead at about 10:00pm. The official cause of
death was electrochoution. The resulting investigation identified a
defective submerged aerator pump, used to circulate the pond water and
inhibit algae growth, as the cause of the electrical shocks. OSHA also
fined Kings Island $23,500 for various violations relating to the accident
including bad electrical grounds, improper circuit breakers, and improper
railings around the pond.
II. One killed in ride fatality.
Candy Taylor, a 5-foot-5-inch tall 32-year-old mother of two was visiting
Kings Island with two friends, Gary Oakley and Doreen Rassmussen, from a
truck-driving school, where Taylor was a student. They had been at the
park all day, "sipping beers" and riding almost every ride in the park.
Oakley and Rassmussen rode the Flight Commander while Taylor finished her
beer. When Oakley and Rassmussen's ride was finished, Taylor boarded the
Flight Commander, an Intamin "Flight Trainer" ride. Witnesses indicated
she showed no outward signs of intoxication, though her autopsy would show
a blood alcohol content of 0.30, which is three times the limit allowed
for motor vehicle operators in Ohio. Taylor entered the #4 tub on the
ride, and closed the shoulder harness and lap bar. Ride attendants
checked both bars to insure that they weree properly locked, and the ride
began its cycle. Witnesses claim that the ride made four full rotations
and Taylor's tub made no maneuvers. Then, it performed a slow roll o the
left, rolling through two rotations. On the second rotation, Taylor fell
from the capsule, striking the ground head first. She was rushed to Miami
Valley Hospital, where she was pronounced dead of multiple body trauma at
10:34 pm.
According to the Department of Agriculture investigators, Taylor was
probably unconscious, probably with a leg against the joystick in the
middle of the seat causing the capsule to roll. State investigators
believe that during the roll, Taylor slipped from her seat, over the
divider, and into the vacant seat, out from under the restraints.
Representatives of Intamin claimed that was impossible, but ride
inspectors were able to demonstrate how it could happen if a solo rider
were riding in a capsule with the restraints open on the vacant seat.
Careful examination of the ride ruled out any mechanical failure; the
State of Ohio ruled that the ride suffered from a design flaw, and noted
that improvements would be required before the ride could operate again.
The state did not specify what changes had to be made, but did suggest
either a higher seat divider or a seat belt.
At one point, attorneys for Taylor's estate wondered if an optional clear
plastic cover over the capsule would have prevented her from falling from
the ride, but park officials noted that the covers...which Kings Island
did not install...were designed to restrain falling objects (keys,
cameras, wallets, etc) and would not be able to stop a falling body.
Source: Articles published in the Cincinnati Enquirer, June 10, 11, 12,
13, 14, 15, 16, 27, July 18, 25, and 26, 1991.
Personal comments on the incident:
When the Flight Commander re-opened, it was equipped with a higher seat
divider in each capsule, and modifications to the control system to
prevent riders from holding the capsule in an inverted position. I took
my first Flight Commander ride after these modifications, and quite
frankly didn't think much of the ride. Like Candy Taylor, I rode alone,
which was interesting since there were several signs indicating that
single riders were not permitted. Had Taylor not been riding alone, she
would not have been able to slide out of her seat...a fact which was not
specifically noted in the news reports. Furthermore, it was also
indicated that the restraints on the empty seat were left open. When I
ride alone in a seat with individual restraints, I tend to close the
restraints on the empty seat myself. I am suprised to find that PKI ride
operators did not do the same on the Flight Commander, and I wonder, if
the restraints on the empty seat were closed, if Taylor would have still
been able to exit the capsule. So, while the official verdict was "design
flaw", and Kings Island properly followed correct operating procedures, I
wonder if minor changes in the operation of the ride might not have
prevented the accident.
Dave Lawrence
Dave Althoff wrote:
(Big ol' snip)
> ====================Reported June 11, 1991:
> June 9, 1991 was the deadliest day in the history of Kings Island; the
> second accident was the first ride-related fatality in the history of the
> park (DCA: note that this was AFTER the removal of the Bat, which NEVER
> KILLED ANYBODY!!!).
>
> --Dave Althoff, Jr.
Dave,
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. I have been "preaching" for years that
there were no deaths on The Bat. It is great that you made that point
so clearly. There have been no cars wildly flying off the track, no
trains smashing into support columns, etc., etc.
As far as the June 9, 1991 accidents at PKI, it is most helpful when,
instead of wild speculation, we return to the facts of a certain
incident or coaster, etc.
Thanks for this detailed and accurate report! :-)
Dave Lawrence
ACE member
--
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
>>>> <<<<
>>>> Dave Lawrence <<<<
>>>> Email: da...@iquest.net <<<<
>>>> http://www.iquest.net/~davel <<<<
>>>> <<<<
>>>> Top Ten: <<<<
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>>>> <<<<
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Steven R. Vande Geer
In article <5fvvn2$1...@login.freenet.columbus.oh.us>,
Date: Tue, 11 Mar 1997 08:07:07 GMT
Newsgroups: rec.roller-coaster
Subject: Re: REPORT: Bad Day at Kings Island (6/9/1991)
References: <5fvvij$b...@login.freenet.columbus.oh.us> <5fvvn2$1...@login.freenet.columbus.oh.us>
X-Newsreader: NETCOMplete/3.2
In article <5fvvn2$1...@login.freenet.columbus.oh.us>,
>water. Heath's girlfriend, Paula four full rotations
>and Taylor's tub made no maneuvers. Then, it performed a slow roll o the
>left, rolling through two rotations. On the second rotation, Taylor fell
>from the capsule, striking the ground head first. She was rushed to Miami
>Valley Hospital, where she was pronounced dead of multiple body trauma at
>10:34 pm.
>According to the Department of Agriculture investigators, Taylor was
>probably unconscious, probably with a leg against the joystick in the
>middle of the seat causing the capsule to roll. State investigators
>believe that during the roll, Taylor slipped from her seat, over the
>divider, and into the vacant seat, out from under the restraints.
>Representatives of Intamin claimed that was impossible, but ride
>inspectors were able to demonstrate how it could happen if a solo rider
>were riding in a capsule with the restraints open on the vacant seat.
>Careful examination of the ride ruled out any mechanical failure; the
>State of Ohio ruled that the ride suffered from a design flaw, and noted
>that improvements would be required before the ride could operate again.
>The state did not specify what changes had to be made, but did suggest
>either a higher seat divider or a seat belt.
>At one point, attorneys for Taylor's estate wondered if an optional clear
>plastic cover over the capsule would have prevented her from falling from
>the ride, but park officials noted that the covers...which Kings Island
>did not install...were designed to restd the
>At one pointif Taylor would have still
>been able to exit the capsule. So, while the official verdict was "design
>flaw", and Kings Island properly followed correct operating procedures, I
>wonder if minor changes in the operation of the ride might not have
>prevented the accident.
>
>--Dave Althoff, Jr.
>--
> /-\ _ _ *** New season begins May 9! ***
> /XXX\ /X\ /X\_ _ /XX\_ _ _ _____
> /XXXXX\ /XXX\ _/XXXX\_ /X\ /XXXXX\ /X\ /X\ /XXXXX
>_/XXXXXXX\__/XXXXX\/XXXXXXXX\_/XXX\_/XXXXXXX\__/XXX\_/XXX\_/\_/XXXXXX
>
It was that incident on the Wing Commander ride that also closed down a similar ride - the Sky-Pilot ride at PKD.
Twigarilyn Zimger Wayne Gacy
>It was that incident on the Wing Commander ride that also closed down a similar ride - the Sky-Pilot ride at PKD.
This ride is still up and running. Just rode it in September.
Kip Ross
kk...@sprintmail.com
-----------------------------------------------------
"Remember years ago,
when you were afraid, frightened, terrified of the dark.
Welcome back!
Prepare yourself for the Outer Limits: Flight of Fear.
The scariest, darkest, most twisted rollercoaster ever.
Face your fears.
Only at Paramount's Kings Dominion" -PKD 1996
"I'm your wild ride, thrill guide, dark side;
mean streak, brain leak;
worst scare, nightmare;
evil twin, fear within;
I'm your...
(Miiinnnd Eraaassser)
(Ohhhhhh, M-M-Mind Eraser...E-E-Eraser)
jet stream, primal scream.
Meet the Mind Eraser, the $8 million monster coaster...
Now at Adventure World" -AW 1995
-----------------------------------------------------
Dave Althoff
Twigarilyn Zimger Wayne Gacy (kk...@sprintmail.com) wrote:
: On Tue, 11 Mar 1997 08:07:07 GMT, Steven R. Vande Geer
: <Stev...@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
: >It was that incident on the Wing Commander ride that also closed down a similar ride - the Sky-Pilot ride at PKD.
: This ride is still up and running. Just rode it in September.
It was reported that after the accident, all of the Intamin Flight Trainer
rides were closed down until the cause of the accident was determined. My
question: I presume that the rides at Kings Dominion and Great America
had the same modifications made as the one at Kings Island...higher seat
divider and some changes to the control system. But what about the one at
Knott's Berry Farm? It was not owned by KECO; I'm curious as to how they
reacted. I know they shut the ride down for a while, but my assumption is
that it was re-opened later...
Tim Howell
Dave Althoff <dal...@freenet.columbus.oh.us> wrote:
> Twigarilyn Zimger Wayne Gacy (kk...@sprintmail.com) wrote: : On Tue, 11 Mar
> 1997 08:07:07 GMT, Steven R. Vande Geer : <Stev...@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
>
> : >It was that incident on the Wing Commander ride that also closed down a
> similar ride - the Sky-Pilot ride at PKD.
>
> : This ride is still up and running. Just rode it in September.
>
> It was reported that after the accident, all of the Intamin Flight Trainer
> rides were closed down until the cause of the accident was determined. My
> question: I presume that the rides at Kings Dominion and Great America
> had the same modifications made as the one at Kings Island...higher seat
> divider and some changes to the control system. But what about the one at
> Knott's Berry Farm? It was not owned by KECO; I'm curious as to how they
> reacted. I know they shut the ride down for a while, but my assumption is
> that it was re-opened later...
>
> --Dave Althoff, Jr.
Yeah, it reopened later. Several months later. It was a big let down
for me, because I was a third grader at the time and had a Knott's trip
planned for several days after the incident. That was, in my opinion at
the time, one of the best rides there, and I was disapointed that I
didn't get to ride it. That day was also the day that I rode my second
looping coaster, Boomerang, a standard Vekoma Boomerang. At the time I
loved it, but now, I don't think it is really worth the wait.
Later, in Christ, Tim
David Jenkinson
Twigarilyn Zimger Wayne Gacy wrote:
>
> On Tue, 11 Mar 1997 08:07:07 GMT, Steven R. Vande Geer
> <Stev...@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
>
> >It was that incident on the Wing Commander ride that also closed down a similar ride - the Sky-Pilot ride at PKD.
>
>
> kk...@sprintmail.com
> -----------------------------------------------------
> "Remember years ago,
> when you were afraid, frightened, terrified of the dark.
> Welcome back!
> Prepare yourself for the Outer Limits: Flight of Fear.
> The scariest, darkest, most twisted rollercoaster ever.
> Face your fears.
> Only at Paramount's Kings Dominion" -PKD 1996
Or Paramount's Kings Island!!!!
Twigarilyn Zimger Wayne Gacy
>> -----------------------------------------------------
>> "Remember years ago,
>> when you were afraid, frightened, terrified of the dark.
>> Welcome back!
>> Prepare yourself for the Outer Limits: Flight of Fear.
>> The scariest, darkest, most twisted rollercoaster ever.
>> Face your fears.
>> Only at Paramount's Kings Dominion" -PKD 1996
>
>Or Paramount's Kings Island!!!!
Yes, but notice the quotations. That's how BOTH parks marketed it.
I've seen both commercials, they are exactly the same but each one
says "Only at PKD" or "Only at PKI."
Uh oh...I sense this thread changing directions :)
Kip Ross
kk...@sprintmail.com
-----------------------------------------------------
"Remember years ago,
when you were afraid, frightened, terrified of the dark.
Welcome back!
Prepare yourself for the Outer Limits: Flight of Fear.
The scariest, darkest, most twisted rollercoaster ever.
Face your fears.
Only at Paramount's Kings Dominion" -PKD 1996
"I'm your wild ride, thrill guide, dark side;
MarkP5
Hello all,
Regarding the flight commander incident; if PKI had been following
current policies that PKD uses, it NEVER would have happened. At PKD, ALL
ride restraints must be closed and locked, regardless if someone is in
them or not (Of course, It makes me wonder if this policy was created in
reaction to the flight commander accident). What other parks have this
policy?
At first, I used to think it was silly, but not anymore. Not only is
it safer, but it LOOKS a lot better as well. Just picture a LOADED train
running with some of the restraints open, going through an inversion (I've
seen this done before - park will remain anonymous). I can hear the guests
now... "Look! Did somebody fall out of there!?"
As a result of the Bier pool deaths, ground fault detectors were
installed on almost everything in the parks. Hopefully nothing like these
incidents will be happening again.
Never knock safety...
Marcus Prater
Mar...@aol.com
Dave Althoff
MarkP5 (mar...@aol.com) wrote:
: Hello all,
: Regarding the flight commander incident; if PKI had been following
: current policies that PKD uses, it NEVER would have happened. At PKD, ALL
: ride restraints must be closed and locked, regardless if someone is in
: them or not (Of course, It makes me wonder if this policy was created in
: reaction to the flight commander accident). What other parks have this
: policy?
Every time I have been in any park, all the empty seats I have seen have
had the restraints closed. Okay, so they don't usually fasten seat belts
on empty seats, and at least one park tends to leave the pins out of
unoccupied Scrambler tubs (not a good idea, IMHO). But I was looking at
an old Cleveland Plain Dealer magazine section which included on-ride
photos of the Double Loop at Geauga Lake. One of the seats right behind
the photographer featured a U-bar sticking straight up in the air. Even
worse, the seat next to the empty one was occupied.
Personally, I think that if the restraints on the empty seat were closed,
the lap bar on the empty seat would have caught Ms. Taylor and prevented
her from falling out. But I can't prove that. I also thought it
interesting that PKI had signs up when I rode Flight Commander (two years
AFTER the accident) indicating "no single riders" and yet I rode by
myself.
: At first, I used to think it was silly, but not anymore. Not only is
: it safer, but it LOOKS a lot better as well. Just picture a LOADED train
: running with some of the restraints open, going through an inversion (I've
: seen this done before - park will remain anonymous). I can hear the guests
: now... "Look! Did somebody fall out of there!?"
: As a result of the Bier pool deaths, ground fault detectors were
: installed on almost everything in the parks. Hopefully nothing like these
: incidents will be happening again.
GFCI protection became part of the National Electrical Code in 1973,
according to the Kings Island Accident articles I read; Kings Island was
not required to install them when the Bier Garten pond was constructed.
As a result of the accident, I understand that PKI now has GFCI protection
on *every 110v circuit in the park*.
: Never knock safety...
Indeed!